COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #01: So if you were looking for the big cataclysmic event that this series was supposedly counting down to...well...keep looking. Yes, it's an anti-climactic ending, where the most notable moment is something that could have easily been done in a six-issue limited series. We sure as hell didn't need 52 weeks to get here. What exactly WAS this supposed to count down to, anyway? When Dan DiDio himself feels the need to apologize to fans, you don't need ME to tell you to stay far away. Let us NEVER speak of this abomination of a series again. Thumbs WAY down!

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #20: What the hell has happened to this series? Dwayne McDuffie (one of the brilliant minds behind "Justice League Unlimited") should have elevated this series to greatness. Instead, we're actually getting filler issues. FILLER! I'll be around next month for the "big" Final Crisis tie-in, but I'm about ready to drop this title for good. Thumbs down!

MIGHTY AVENGERS #12: If you haven't noticed, Nick Fury's been in hiding. And apparently, he's been trying to fight the Skrull invasion from behind the scenes. This issue also attempts to explain the many turns of Spider-Woman. Nothing thrilling, but I'm still intrigued. Thumbs in the middle.

UNCANNY X-MEN #497: More fun with Wolverine, Colossus, and Nightcrawler in Mother Russia while Emma and Cyclops become damn, dirty hippies. And being a damn, dirty hippie is all fun and games until THE MAN shows up to kill your buzz. Set those nightsticks to "whomp"! This was a pretty good issue. Thumbs up.

EDIT: Had to double-back to the comic shop, because I forgot about...

HULK #3: Is it me or was the wait for this unusually long? Anyway, this issue was a great showing for the New Abomination (a.k.a. Rick Jones). Red Hulk wails away at A-Bomb so hard that it actually shatters Banner's cell way down below ground. With Banner loose, the stage is set for Hulk vs. Hulk next issue. Me likey! Thumbs up!

I actually thought Mighty Avengers was really good (best issue in forever). It adds a real espionage type of feeling to everything "Secret Invasion", and re-establishes Nick Fury as the total bad ass that he is.